Shuttle, clamp and bobbin



March 16, 1965 1 A. FlNK SHUTTLE. CLAMP AND BOBBIN Filed June 18, 1962 A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,173,453 SHUTTLE, CLAMP AND BOBBIN Armin Fink, Franzosenstrasse, Diessenhofen, Switzerland Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,126 1 Claim. (Cl. 139-207) The present invention generally relates to an improved shuttle arrangement for an automatic loom and, further, to an improved clamping device of the type comprising resilient jaw means between which a bobbin is adapted to be detachably and securely held, and to an improved bobbin construction adapted for use with the improved clamping device and shuttle arrangement.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide improved clamping means for a shuttle which is particularly adapted for supporting a bobbin or the like in a positive and reliable manner.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide improved clamp means for reliably supporting and positioning a yarn carrier, and which permits simple insertion and removal of the yarn carrier from the clamp means.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved shuttle construction of the type including a clamp arrangement having resilient jaw mem bers and a guide nose including an inclined face for fixedly and detachably positioning and holding a yarn carrier.

' A further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved bobbin construction which is particularly adapted for use with a clamping arrangement of a shuttle.

. Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved shuttle construction which can operate at reduced noise and vibration, is economical in its manufacture yet highly reliable in its operation.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide improved clamping means for holding a bobbin carrier in a positive and reliable manner, and which permits insertion of a new yarn carrer and removal of the empty yarn carrier in a relatively simple manner.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved clamping arrangement for a bobbin wherein the bobbin can be quickly and positively centered between the .clamping arrangement.

In a preferred manifestation of the present invention there is provided a shuttle of the type comprising a body member provided with a bobbin-receiving recess between its ends and supporting clamp means fixedly and detachably mounted within said bobbin-receiving recess. The clamp means comprises a head portion and a pair of spaced jaw members extending forwardly of said head portion, with a nose member projecting from the head portion between and in the direction of the spaced jaw members. The nose member is further provided with inclined face means facilitating insertion and positioning of a bobbin or yarn carrier between the spaced and resilient jaw members. The bobbin is preferably constructed to possess an enlarged head portion formed of a vulcanizable material and a reduced shaft portion preferably formed of wood and upon which the yarn is carried. The head portion and the shaft portion of the bobbin are separate members which are securely joined together, so that during operation of the shuttle they will not separate. In this manner it is possible to economically employ the shaft pontions of old bobbins.

Still further objects of the present invention and its entire scope and applicability will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary View, partially in crosssection, of a shuttle and bobbin-clamping arrangement de signed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view showing details of the clamp for detachably holding a bobbin or the like;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of the clamp depicted in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 schematically illustrates a two-piece bobbin or spool according to the present invention and adapted to be employed in the clamping arrangement shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is shown a shuttle S comprising an elongated body member 1 provided at its opposed ends with the metal tips 2 and possessing a bobbin-receiving recess 3 which extends between the opposed ends of the body member 1. For convenience of illustration, I have only depicted enough of the body member 1 which will aid one in understanding the present invention.

The bobbin-receiving recess 3 includes at one end a preferably cylindrical or slightly conical recess 4 adapted to snugly receive a correspondingly shaped head portion 5 of a clamp member, generally designated by reference numeral 6. Extending transversely across the width of the body member 1 is a suitable bore 1a adapted to receive a fastening member 7, for fixedly and detachably securing the head portion 5 of the clamp member 6 firmly within the recess 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening arrangement is shown as a threaded screw 8 and associated lock nut 9, with the screw member 8 extending transverse through suitable openings 10 provided in the head portion 5 of the clamp member 6. The clamp member 6 includes a pair of resilient jaw members 11 adapted to detachably support therebetween the barrel or cylindrical shaped head 13 of a bobbin or spool 14 provided with the shaft or shank portion 15 having the stepped ridges 36 extending down the length of the shaft 15.

An inspection of FIGURES 2 and 3 will more clearly reveal the details of the clamp arrangement 6, particularly adapted for detachably supporting the bobbin or spool 14 and permits easy insertion thereof between the clamping jaws 11. It will be appreciated that the clamp member 6 includes the hollow cylindrical or slightly conical head portion 5 and the parallely extending resilient clamp jaws 11. These jaws 11 are spaced from one another preferably at a distance slightly less than the diameter D of the head portion 13 of the bobbin 14. The jaw members 11 may be secured within the hollow cylindrical head portion 5 as by hard soldering, riveting or in any other expedient manner. By referring to FIGURE 3 it will be appreciated that each jaw member 11 includes a pair of substantially parallel arm or leg portions 16, which are flexed inwardly towards one another adjacent the head portion 5 and preferably of circular cross-section and interconnected by a lateral leg portion 17. In this manner it will be evident that each jaw 11 substantially defines a U-shaped member with the spaced, non-interconnected ends 18 thereof fixedly secured to the inner wall 19 of the hollow head portion 4. The clamp 6 may be formed of a suitable metal, such as hardened steel with the jaw members 11 thereof being resilient or springy throughout their entire length.

It will be recognized by referring to FIGURES 2 and 3 that between the parallel jaw members 11, there is arranged a forwardly extending nose member 20, the construction and function of which will now be described.

Patented Mar. 16, 1965,

The nose member 20 extends in the direction of the lateral leg portions or free ends 17 of the jaw members 11 and includes the integral surfaces or faces 21, 22, 23. It will be understood that this nose member 20 may be formed integral'with the head'portion 5, or can be a separate member which is fixedly secured thereto as by soldering. The face or surface 21 inclines downwardly in the direction of the free end 17 of the spaced jaw members 11 and merges with a transversely extending face member 22, the latter of which forms an abutment or stop face for one end 24 of the head portion 13 of the bobbin 14. This downwardly extending face 21 forms an angle a with the longitudinal axis of the body member 1, which is preferably between 15 and 80. It will'be appreciated that the spacing between the abutment face 22 and the free end 17 of the jaw member 11 is preferably slightly larger than the length L of the head portion 13 of the bobbin 14.

By virtue of the provision of the downwardly sloped face 21 of the nose member 20, there is facilitated insertion and alignment of the bobbin 14 between the clamping jaws 11. It should be appreciated that the smooth, slanting surface 21 provides a positive guiding surface for inserting the bobbin head 13 between the jaws 11, and as such, the bobbin 14 can be very easily and quickly inserted therebetween, either manually or by means of an automatic spool change mechanism. The remaining lower leg 23 of the nose member extends from the lower edge of the abutment face 22, and is fixed to or integral with the head portion 13 to provide the necessary stability for the nose member 20.

By referring to FIGURE 4, the details of the bobbin 14 will be more readily revealed. As previously stated the bobbin comprises a preferably enlarged, barrel or cylindrical shaped head portion 13 and a reduced diameter, shaft portion 15, the latter of which is provided with stepped ridges 36 extending axially down the length of the shaft 15. The head portion 13 is preferably a synthetic material, such as a vulcanizable mixture of rubber and synthetic resin similar to hard rubber.

Further, the head portion 13 of the bobbin 14 is provided at its ends 24, 26 with tapered or beveled portions 25 which extend about the circumference of the head 'portion 13 and facilitate insertion of said head portion'between the resilient clamping' jaws 11. At the forward end 26 of the head portion 13, there is fixedly supported a hollow shaft 27 formed of metal for example, which is adapted to receive the hollow shaft 15 upon'which the yarn is carried. The shaft 15 is preferably formed of wood, and the shaft members 27 and 15 may be securely assembled together, as with a suitable adhesive such that they will not separate. For example, it is possible to provide the shaft 15 with a metal sleeve 28'at one end which slides over the shaft 27 of the head portion 13 and is fixedly supported thereon. In this manner, I am able to employ the wooden shafts 15' of used bobbins and to secure them to the head portion 13 to provide a' new bobbin structure for use with the above-described clamping arrangement. The provision of a plastic orrubberlike head 13 having beveled ends 25 provides a firm clamping between the resilient jaw members 11, and one need not fear that during operation of the shuttle that the bobbin 14 will become loosened or misaligned. It will be appreciated that upon insertion of the headp'ortion 13 of-the bobbin 14 between the jaw members 11, thebobbin is securely held between said jaw members along four separate and spaced lines of contact, each of which ex tend parallel to the axis of a respective leg portion 16.-

The leg portions 16 each extend axially of the bobbin while firmly grasping and pressing against said head portion 13 to center the bobbin 14 in the shuttle body member 1 and to prevent axial movement thereof. Further, the above-described arrangement, in addition to providing a positive locking action between the bobbin head 13 and the clamping jaws 11, also operates at reduced noise and with less vibration;

Having thus described the present invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

A clamp member adapted to be mounted with a shuttle for use in conjunction with a bobbin having an enlarged cylindrical head portion with a smooth continuous external surface, said clamp member comprising:

a head portion'h'aving a nose member projecting from one end thereof;

said'n'o'se member including a generally fiat abutment surface spaced fro'm said head portion and further including an inclined surface extending between said abutment surface and said head portion; and

a pair of-spaced resilient jaw members, each having one end thereof secured to said head portion;

said jaw members'extending from said head portion on opposite sides ofsaid nose member;

each of said jaw members including a pair of straight legs disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another;

each of' said legs being resilient throughout their entire length;

said bobbin cylindrical head portion being insertable between said jaw members by guiding'action of said inclined surface;

said jaws serving as the sole supportfor said bobbin with such supporting action being effectuated by engagement of said'resilient legs against the smooth continuous external surface of said bobbin cylindrical head portionin four separate and spaced parallel lines of contact extending axially of the bobbin;

said nose member and'said jaw members cooperating to prevent axial movement of said bobbin within said shuttle with said legs gripping said cylindricalhead portion to prevent'axial movement away from said nose member and said flat abutment surface serving as a stop forthe end of said cylindrical head portion to limit axial movement toward said head portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 844,318 2/07 Boisonneault et al 139-207 884,356- 4/08 Boisonneault et al 139--207 907,666 12/08 Wood 139-207 1,466,418 8/23 Bashaw 139207 1,525,367 2/25 CadOret" 139-207 1,675,132 6/28 Prescott 139-207 2,378,901 6/45 Amrhein et al 242118.32 2,793,822 5/57 Consoletti 242118.32 3,048,197 8/62 Fink 139207 FOREIGN PATENTS- 610,948 12/60 Canada. 191,715 1/24 Great Britain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner. RUSSELL c. MADER, Examiner. 

